mk2 golf gtis, views from non-vw fanbois please

I daily drove my Mk2 valver for a year and a half and the only time it let me down was because of a dodgy new battery. They're not as bullet proof as people like to make out but if it's been looked after and you look after it as well, it'll look after you. They're a fantastic drive when they've been looked after.

Only way you're going to find out is to give one a go, just read the buyers guides and don't buy on the cheap.

Unless its been very well looked after its bound to have a few squeaks and rattles, after all the newest one will be 20 years old now. They're good cars, though I prefer the 8v engines.

Just my 2p's worth...

I ran an oak green run-out model with a 2.0 16v conversion as a daily a couple of years back. I don't know if I was expecting too much from it, given the hype they get, but it always just left me a bit cold. It was fairly quick, handled ok (it was on lowered springs and standard shocks, which probably wasn't the best combo - still rolled an awful lot) and it did look lovely when clean, it just wasn't really the car I was expecting it to be.

It had a solid front engine mount, which I wouldn't bother with for daily use as it used to vibrate and rattle at idle. The vast majority will crunch on the downchange into 2nd when the box was cold (this got progressively worse and was not nice in winter) and the box itself was a bit vague ( it had done about 150k though). Another mild cold weather irritation was the handbrake freezing on, leading to an immobile car when stuck on the ice in the carpark of my old flat :-) . Also, it did NOT like being left unused for any length of time in bad weather - no more than 3 days when it was cold/damp. If it was left over a week, it could take 5 mins of continuous cranking to get it going again (all HT leads etc seemed in good condition and I never looked into it further as I was getting rid).

I'd just say have a good drive in one before buying. Depends what you're used to - the late ones have power steering, elec windows etc (mine even had aircon, but that's rare), so would be a nicer car to drive every day.

Here's a pic:

i also prefer the 8v to the 16v. the power delivery is more suited to a street driven daily driver. on an all out trackday car the 16v might win out, but the power delivery is very top-end only- i think it being described as 'require provoking' as described above is spot on.
an 8v is less juicy, but can go as good as a 16v if driven right, and takes less skill to do so as the power delivery is over a wider, lower rev range. 8v is a tougher engine too, its rare for em to have problems.

i don't find them underbraked at all though, you sure your systems up to scratch? even running smaller than stock tyres ive never had trouble hauling up pretty damn quick in one. ive had crappy handbrake issues, but its nothing a caliper slider rebuild and some fresh cables with plenty of grease cant sort.

tbh, id prefer to buy a b3 passat, as its the same engine/suspension/braking/drivetrain package but with a slightly longer wheelbase which i think improves the handling greatly especially under hard cornering, a better built and scerwed together interior and no 'gti' insurance tag, but i can see why people prefer the looks/smaller packaging of the golf.

test drive a 205 or 309 with a 2.0 16v lump

A friend of mine is a fanboy but generally honest about a car's pitfalls unlike some VW folk I know. He had owned 2 or 3 MKII Valvers and been a passenger of an 8V. He has also owned a few French GTis and now has a Renault Clio 172 as a daily driver and occasional track toy.

In his opinion they handle best (on the road anyway) with good or refreshed stock suspension, giving a good compromise between handling and thrills. On cheapo coilovers the ride and handling were poor. On Gaz GHAs the car was superb especially when setup for the track, but herein came the problem. The car became a little too grippy on the road to the extent it left him feeling a little dull when he drove it on the road (he acquired another daily for this very reason so as to keep the car as a track toy).

Braking, as has been stated he never had an issue with. He found good brake fluid combined with half decent track pads (M1144s or DS2500s) on a stock system gave him plenty of braking power to play with.

Engine wise he reckons the Digitecs (Spelling?) are the systems to go with since they are meant to give less trouble than the K-Jetronic. In the past on a well setup K-Jetronic system (on a Volvo 740 and three XR3is) I have not really had an issue with them myself.

Again like most have said, the 16v can be a little meh when not on cam, yet offer quite a few thrills when revved, with the 8v being the smooth operator (but with not quite as much top end as the 16v engines although the 2.0 conversions can give you the best of both worlds). Which power delivery you prefer is up to you.

Interiors I have found last well with enthusiasts but not so well with boy racers.

As with any car I would buy on condition and not mileage. Better off getting an enthusiast cared commuter car than something that has been thrashed everytime it has been driving out.



Besides the fact that the rear end handling can take some getting used to (it does put a grin on your face however), the ELC quality interior in addition to their Airfix construction I would agree. Out of all the GTis I have owned (205, 306 and 106) the 306 was the best daily, the 106 was like a modern 205 (but with a curse word seating position) the 205 still delivers a smile on my face everytime I drive it .

However, despite my affection of French GTis, I would still get the Golf in your shoes. It is clearly an itch that needs to be scratched .

I had a mk2 8v as my daily for 2 years and I loved it (one of the cars I most regret selling).

It had 168k on the clock when I brought it, but felt like it had done a lot less. I lowered it on a set of matched shocks and springs, and combined with some eagal F1 tyres it used to stick like brown stuff to a blanket. A few (well 8) years before it I had a 1.6 205 GTi, and TBH I preferred the handling of teh golf (more predicatble).
Plus I could get 40 MPG out of it on a run and I loved the low down grunt it had.

I haven't driven a mk2 16v, but I did own a corrado 1.8 16v which was a nice car, but you had to rev it to get any were and I never got more than 30 MPG out of it.

I would have another mk2 8v as a daily in a shot. Comfort wise, I drove mine from Bath to the lake district to crew for my mates rally Nova without any aches or pains (and with a Magnex stainless system on it too)

I own a VW which presumably makes me a fanboi meaning I'm not allowed to give an opinion.

If I could give an opinion I'd say don't buy one because people will label you as a "dubber" or a "VW fanboi" and think you're a bellend.

I had a 8v in 97 which was the nuts, i loved it, handled well on the 14" bbs wheels, it was lowered on shocks and springs, felt very sporty (i was 18 at the time was my second car) it loved to rev too